Child&#39;s clothing ensemble

ABSTRACT

The following information relates to new methods of recycling clothing. Although the concept of recycling garments is not new, the new methods and the results of those methods are both new and unexpected. Rarely is the recycling of garments as practical and as easy as the methods to be presented. Additionally, these methods of recycling can enable apparel manufacturers, sewing boutiques, and even home sewers, to save money and time. Benefits include sewing as little as possible while having the effect that much sewing has taken place. Another gain includes the prospect of recycling garments that failed quality control inspections due to slight imperfections. By utilizing the new methods, a marketable children&#39;s apparel line can emerge, from what would normally be a loss. Consider the benefits of a new children&#39;s apparel line almost completely sewn before the new recycling methods begin.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Applicant, Cristi Cannon Turney, claims the benefit of:

VA1-190-265 filed Nov. 05, 2001 registered Dec. 3, 2002. U.S. D465,316 S Nov. 12, 2002 filed Mar. 6, 2001, entitled: A Child's Outfit, Provisional Patent Application No.: 60/717,320 filed Sep. 15, 2005, entitled: Recycled Child's Outfit, Provisional Patent Application No.: U.S. Ser. No. 11/487,035 filed Jul. 14, 2005, entitled: Adjustable multi-size garment closure.

STATEMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDING

Not applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

This utility patent application relates to a new use for shirts, blouses, skirts, dresses, and coats. Unwanted garments are good for recycling into smaller clothing. Although the concept of recycling garments is not new, my methods and results are both new and unexpected. Rarely is the recycling of garments as practical as the new method to be presented.

I am very excited, because my method saves time and it's attractive! Practically the entire ensemble is made before you even start the re-construction process.

It will be to the readers advantage and it will take less time if I introduce you to myself and my method of recycling used clothing. Being an inventive sewing artist, a portion of my time is spent experimenting with fabric contents, textures, and weaves as well as testing fabric responses to high or low temperatures. Every garment that comes through my hands is tested for strength, content, colorfastness, and grain alignment. If the garment fails one of my four tests, it is rejected. Although any type of garment will work with my sewing construction method, I prefer to use high end clothing made of 100% cotton, wool, linen, or silk as the base for my ensembles. I always choose high end clothing because the construction and materials used are usually of better quality and on grain. Off grain garments are discarded. If the garment is antique, and I like it, I will use it regardless of fabric content. All of the garments that are destined to become part of my ensemble are properly laundered before the creative processes begin. If the laundering process destroys the garment, I keep any usable parts. At every stage of construction, left over usable fabrics, plackets, pockets, sleeves, and any ornamentation are put the side for future use. Again, the children's entire clothing ensemble is sewn from larger garments that are not in use. Hence, the size of the child's ensemble is determined by the size of the larger garment. The gender of the individual pieces of the ensemble is determined by the lap of the placket found in the larger garment. For the greatest aesthetic effect, I coordinate the colors of fabrics and embellishments freely by recycling more than one garment at a time. For instance, I may use two to three shirts to construct a pinafore and bloomer set of complementary color, print or texture. Neutral shades of soft shirting can also be used to make supple bias binding used through out the individual ensemble embodiments. In every way, measures are taken to extend the use or life of the children's ensemble by making it as size adjustable as possible. In addition, after the individual ensemble pieces are assembled they are post washed to ensure customer satisfaction. Again, I like to choose garments that will bring the greatest amount of positive results with the least amount of effort. It just makes good business sense to do so.

This method incorporates the fabrics, plackets, pockets, sleeves, and any ornamentation in a new way to produce a children's clothing ensemble. I use the term ensemble because the word ensemble includes but is not limited to the words: group, collection, assembly, and as a whole.

In short, plackets can be reused in the original form by accurately placing any commercial pattern. You do this by buttoning the placket together in an inside out fashion. To rephrase, the garment must be turned inside out with the placket fully or partially buttoned in order to be able to perform the laying out of the commercial pattern successfully. The buttonhole area of the commercial pattern must fall directly on top of the inside out buttoned placket row. After the commercial pattern has been placed, cut out as directed on the commercial pattern. Sleeves can be transformed into children's pants, shorts, etc. by cutting the sleeves off of the existing garment. Iron the detached sleeves as though they were still connected to the garment. You do this by aligning the cuff plackets, cuffs, and inseams of the sleeves so that they are evenly facing each other. Place any commercial pattern on top of the pressed aligned sleeves and use the commercial pattern as a guide to cut crotch and casing area. Remember to leave enough space at the top of the pattern for turning down a casing. The same principal will work with short sleeves. There are no side seams or any reason to hem the shorts or pants because that is already taken care of. In addition, button down collars can be removed from garments and be cut in half and transformed into long sleeve shirt cuffs. The same button down type collars can be used whole in conjunction with a commercial sectional hat pattern to become the kooky hat brim. If the collar comes with an adjustable opening, the little hat will also be adjustable.

My theory of sewing can be applied in a variety of ways. The pants and shorts can be further improved to become bloomers, diaper or panty covers, and petticoats. With the introduction of patches or lace the outfits can become gender specific. The button or snap plackets can be placed on the front, back, and side of children's shirts, dresses, and pinafores and coats. Portions of the plackets can be used at the neck area across the shoulders for easy fastening; that advantage is perfect for scoop necks, slips and summer wear. The plackets can also be used in button undergarments.

In addition, I love to reuse wool found in existing garments. I have found that by using over sized patterns and constructing the entire garment, purse or hat with matching thread, I can make lovely little children's clothes and accessories. I have also learned that by adding contrasting colors with like thread during the construction process, that letters, numbers and other shapes and figures can be added to the wool product. The key is fully felting or shrinking the item after the construction process is finished. I do this by boiling the product. Next, I put the product and the boiling water in the hottest water my washing machine can tolerate and I also put it on the roughest wash cycle. This heat and agitation creates attractive durable products. Again, this method gives the appearance of a certain type of work such as worsted knitting, while in reality, no knitting took place during my construction process.

PRIOR ART

Objects and Advantages

By entering the USPTO Web site, I was able to view the References Cited in my Design Patent Number: US D465,316 S. Only three were related to children's clothing. None were quite like my children's clothing ensemble which includes but is not limited to: under clothing, outer wear, day wear, sleep wear, shirts, pants, shorts, pinafores, & dresses. Clearly, my sewing method can do considerably more than the inventions that were cited in Design Patent Number: US D465,316 S.

-   -   Re8,093 E, by Woodward was created for men's overalls.     -   U.S. Pat. No. 1,204,719 A, by Van Heusen was in connection with         ladies wear.     -   U.S. Pat. No. 1,367,182 A, by Gardi has an adjustable waist for         ladies active wear.     -   U.S. Pat. No. 1,405,405 A, by Gendel was well presented and         pleasant to the eyes. It however, only pertained to children's         outer wear.     -   U.S. Pat. No. 1,476,831 A, by Pease was very nice. I got a bit         overwhelmed by all the work the child or mother would have to         resort to in order to actually use the little child's outfit.         What if the poor child had to get to the rest room in a hurry?     -   U.S. Pat. No. 2,252,884 A, Mr. Fellroth was a very clever man         also. I especially liked his drop pants invention. I had been         searching for something similar for the past few months. Yes,         that invention is like a breath of fresh air. Seeing that gave         me insight as to how I can cause my buttoned underwear to work.

I have continued to research my invention in old sewing manuals. I have read everything I can find and I found this:

The New Encyclopedia of Modern Sewing, © 1948 by WM. H. Wise & CO., INC. Pages 238-250 come the closest to having a view of my invention. Upon further examination, the boys blouse on page 243 shows how I currently lay out a short sleeved, collarless view like the one pictured in my current, Design Patent Number: US D465,316 S. It however, does not indicate the use of sleeves the way my method of sewing incorporate sleeves. In addition, I notice that the outerwear, panty and slip, smocked dress from two shirts, or pinafore from one shirt, illustrated on page 241 & 242 do not include the practice of utilizing the existing plackets. Furthermore, I am persuaded that most laymen would not perceive what they were viewing. I have a trained eye for how and why the pattern should be laid out in that manner. I am finding this information today, Sep. 6, 2006. As an aside, perhaps the only reason I spotted this is because I noticed the concept was used in the adult section on page 247. This section was referring to HOW TO MAKE A MANS SUIT INTO A WOMAN'S SUIT. After reading through their instructions I am not persuaded that the remade ladies jacket illustrated on page 247 utilized the existing placket of a man's suit. I have included the pages of this information with this utility application.

Winter of 1981 was cold and I made my infant a pair of pants made out of a sweater. I took a sweater and cut off the sleeves. Then I cut a long strip of sweater about the width of my little son's tummy and hinny. I sewed the strip of fabric between the two arms of the sweater that had been detached. I did the sewing where the upper arms would connect to the body. The sweater sleeves at the wrist were the footed area. I took used elastic and put it inside a casing that was made by turning the sweater fabric down and sewing. I threw the invention away; I was too embarrassed for any one to see it. You are becoming privy to this information because it bears a direct relationship with this patent that is pending. Between the years 1981-1999 my memory was impaired. Although I could sew to a degree in certain areas, I had no memory of making the sweater pants. I did learn the art of French Hand Sewing in the year of 1987, yet the rest of my ability to sew died. When I would try to remember how to sew, all attempts failed. I couldn't remember how to sew. Somehow I started to get better.

In the December of 2000 Cristi's Art Corner opened. By that time I was making handmade Christmas Ornaments, and sewing on a professional level. In the 2003 and 2004 GNF I Placed first in most of the categories I entered. I attended the 2005 conference on “Intellectual Property and the Global Market Place” in Salt Lake City, Utah. These events tell me that I am on the mend.

My Dr. said that sometimes anxiety or trauma can cause things to be lost or repressed. Yes, I made a pair of pants out of a sweater in 1981. I used the sweater pants and disposed of them. If I understand what happened to me: The memory of making the pants from a sweater was lost or repressed until it was safe for the idea to resurface in 2001 when I reinvented the idea and put it into tangible form. I am not a Dr. I can not explain it. I just lived through all of it.

Now, I literally have to have charts in my home which is also my work place, to help me remember to clean up, cook and sew . . . In my sewing room I have a chart that helps me remember that I have a design patent on a child's outfit and that I have two patents pending. Seeing these items written down helps me remember to sew. All of my paper work for this particular patent is set beside the computer to help me remember to work on it. This paperwork would not have been possible before I entered treatment.

The idea of making a child's pants out of a sweater returned to me and I put it into tangible form the same day which was: Jan. 31, 2001. This time, the idea floated around in my head only a few minutes before was applied to button up shirts. I recorded the child's outfit in my sewing journal. The drawing is very crude. I have included a copy of the journal in this utility application.

I showed a completed child's outfit it to a beauty shop friend of mine who encouraged me to get the paperwork into your office for a patent. She made it clear that the outfit was a good idea and that a smart person would jump on it if I didn't do it quick.

Well I got my paperwork in to the USPTO and had patent pending and a copyright symbol on my little outfits. Someone did try to take my outfits and copy them for profit. I insisted that she return the outfits that I sold to her in good faith. I also assured her that we would have our day in court if she proceeded. That paperwork became Design Patent # US D465,316 S.

I also submitted pictures of some of my early my outfits and the process used to make the long sleeve cuffs out of button down collars on Nov. 5, 2001. I think there was a lot of confusion about 9/11 and the mail was being routed so that people would be safe from some form of white powder. I remember going to the local post office and they helped me track that submission which lead to a resubmission of some sort. Anyway, my submission was lost and it did not get recorded until Dec. 3, 2002 and Apr. 17, 2003.

HOW THE SEWING METHOD WORKS

With out being redundant, commercial pattern pieces are placed on the large garments at areas of interest such as the plackets, back yokes, embellishments, collars, and sleeves. When ever possible use as much of the available fabric with the garment as possible. The object is to sew as little as possible while having the effect that much sewing has taken place. In the case of plackets I have found it beneficial to turn the garment inside out and re-buttoning the garment while it is turned inside out. In most cases the collars and sleeves are removed and pressed right side out. Sleeves are aligned with right sides together making sure that the sleeve plackets are facing each. This allows for other the best placement of a commercial pattern for pants, shorts, etc. When nap is a concern make sure that every pattern piece is placed in the same direction. If that is possible abandon the project.

Although any seam preparation can be performed using a serger, or no seam preparation is used at all, I choose French and flat fell as my favorite seam finish. For bulky fabrics I trim the insides of flat fell seams. Many other seam preparations are available and occasionally I employ each of them.

FIG. 1 a-1 f shows is a front elevational view of the effect of placing the front portion of a commercial pattern piece on a garment with the pattern piece positioned with the button symbols lying directly over a placket button as previously stated.

FIG. 2 a-2 f is a rear elevational view thereof.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show the effect of placing the front pattern piece on embellishments or trimmings as well as placing the front placket.

FIG. 4 a shows the effect of using more than one garment during the construction process. FIGS. 4 b and 4 c show a short pinafore with the sleeve pants. It also illustrates the use of placing the back side of a pattern on the placket. FIG. 4 d illustrates the use of button down collars for little cuffs. FIG. 4 e shows the use of the original shirt hem. FIG. 4 f shows that pockets can be taken off of garments and placed in different areas for serviceability.

FIG. 5 a-d Show button plackets that button in the back. They also show the use of bias tape made from differing shirts.

FIG. 6 a-d shown on a size four buster brown mannequin is used to illustrate the size adjustability mentioned in paragraph [0003]. This outfit is the same garment shown in FIGS. 1 d and 2 d on the six month old mannequin.

FIG. 7 a shows a pair of bloomers made from a short shirt sleeve. I used a turn down facing with elastic for the waist. The bottom of the bloomers shows the effect of elastic above the original sleeve hem. The other leg shows the effect of using the original hem as a casing. FIG. 7 b shows a side view. Note that there is no need to side seams when sleeves are used whether they are long or short makes no difference. FIG. 7 c shows the frontal view of shorts made with a sleeve and no hem was needed because it was in the original garment. FIG. 7 d is a back view of FIG. 7 c. FIG. 7 e is a close up showing the use of a collar tip to be used as an adjustable fastener for bloomers or shorts, and the longer version will be using that also. FIGS. 7 f-h Shows a frontal view of the application.

FIG. 8 a is a frontal elevational view of a slip or house dress. FIG. 8 b is a back elevational view of the same. FIG. 8 c and 8 d show that the whole placket was used with the original hem in place. FIG. 8 e shows the frontal elevational view of button underclothes. FIG. 8 f shows the back view of the same. FIG. 8 g-8 j show the back comes down via a bias placket.

FIG. 9 a shows the frontal elevational view of a child's hat utilizing the button down collar method. FIG. 9 b shows the back view of the same.

FIG. 10 a shows a frontal view of one my out fits. Notice the pocket on the front. FIG. 10 b shows a close up of the pocket. FIG. 10 c shows the little thing that is inside the pocket. It has a button whole and it is finished with bias tape. The rest of the pictures that relate to FIG. 10 are showing that the little accent is washable and removable. I did this by placing a button behind the pocket button so that mothers could place the accent with like colors with out it getting lost in the wash.

HOW THE SEWING METHOD WORKS

The following information relates to a new method of recycling shirts, blouses, skirts, dresses, and coats. Unwanted garments are good for recycling into smaller clothing. Although the concept of recycling garments is not new, my methods of recycling and the results of those methods are both new and unexpected. Rarely is the recycling of garments as practical and as easy as the new method to be presented. I am very excited, because my new method saves time and it's attractive! Practically the entire children's ensemble is sewn before the re-construction process begins!

The object of my new method of manufacture is to sew as little as possible while having the effect that much sewing has taken place. Please refer to the BACK GROUND OF INVENTION for more information concerning the following statements and procedures.

Begin with a suitable garment or group of garments to be recycled. Pattern style, brand, and size are left to the discretion of the reader. Pattern pieces are to be carefully placed on larger garments that have been smoothed, arranged, or prepared so that as much of the garment can be recycled while utilizing areas of interest such as: plackets, back yokes, embellishments, collars, sleeves, and hems.

Plackets:

In the case of plackets, I have found it beneficial to turn the existing garment inside out. Once the garment is turned, re-button the placket in an inside out manner. Use your thumbs, touch the top and bottom of the placket on the buttonhole side. You will see the buttons are now toward you and you look kind of funny with your thumbs touching both ends of the placket. Put your fingers on the under side of the placket and hold the placket in your thumbs and fingers at both ends. If the garment is too large, have someone help you. Now shake the garment holding tightly with your thumbs and fingers. You should now have the garment in your hands with the center back farthest away from the center of the garment which is usually where the placket is located. By doing this action you have caused the fabrics to be smoothed with right sides together. Keeping the fabric and placket with right sides together, arrange the garment flat on the cutting service with the buttoned placket and the surrounding fabric smoothed evenly in preparation for the commercial pattern of choice. Place the pattern piece so that the buttonhole area falls directly over the inside out buttoned placket. Obey the grain alignment arrows on the pattern. Cut out the pattern piece as directed. FIGS. 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6, 7A, and 15A show the results of correctly placing the button area of the front pattern piece for shirts, outer wear, jackets, and a dress directly above or on the placket line of the existing garment. FIGS. 7F, 8B, 9, 12B and 13B show the results of correctly placing the button area of the back pattern piece for pinafores, dresses, and shirts directly above or on the placket line of the existing garment.

Plackets Continued

Plackets can be used to create children's button underclothing. A placket can be torn away from an existing garment and used as a waistline in underclothes that attach at the waistband by buttoning. You are going to disassemble one or more garments to produce quality button underclothes. Select one of those garments in order to use the two corresponding sides of the placket. Although you can use scissors to obtain the two sides of the placket, I prefer, whenever possible to tear along the edges of the buttoned placket so that I can check to make sure that the garment was constructed on the straight of grain. If the fabric is of a light to medium density you should be able to tear the fabric in a straight line parallel with the two sides of the placket.

DO NOT CUT THE PLACKET!

You will need to cut one inch away from the completed edges of the placket. You will be clipping the fabric found near the sides of the placket. Now, cut one inch away from the completed edges of the placket. You will use the one inch of fabric as a seam allowance. With practice, you will need less than one inch to sew the corresponding edges of the placket to the undershirt and underpants of the button underclothes. For the purpose of explaining the procedure, I'll use one inch seam allowance as a reference.

You should now have a complete placket in your hand that is still buttoned together as it was before you removed it from the existing garment. This buttoned placket has been severed from the rest of the existing garment. The placket has one inch of seam allowance running parallel to the finished edges of both corresponding sides of the placket. Place the buttoned placket to the side.

Use the rest of the left over fabric available from the disassembled garment plus another one of like fabric content to construct the button underclothes. Use a commercial pattern that allows for drop down underpants. If needed, create or extend slits at the side openings for ample drop down underpants. Disregard any instructions in reference to the button application at the waistline. Cut out the pattern leaving the recommended seam allowance at the waistline area.

Unbutton prepared placket. Apply a seam finish that encloses all loose ends and threads as you sew the male side of the placket (the side with buttons) to the waistline area of the undershirt. Apply a seam finish that encloses all loose ends and threads as you sew the female side of the placket (the side with buttonholes) to the waistline area of the underpants. The button underclothes are now ready to wash and wear!

FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C, 13D, 13E, and 13F show the evidence that you can use existing plackets to create button underclothes. FIG. 13D reveals that I reinforced the buttons as a help for myself during my exercise to prove my newest sewing theory concerning button underclothes. Such reinforcement is not actually needed. FIGS. 13C and 13D show that I placed a button inside the underpants to help secure the side closures. The figures also show the use of bias tape created from a like garment for finishing the edges of the drop down slit. FIGS. 13E and 13F show back views of the underclothes in drop down position. Refer to [0004] if you need to be refreshed on how to construct the back of the undershirt using the back placket placement method.

Back Yokes

Back yokes can also be reused for children's clothing.

Understand, that you will be cutting out the entire back section of the commercial child's pattern while obtaining the benefit of the existing garments back yoke. Therefore, the placement of the commercial pattern on the existing garment is very important. If there is a one way design or embellishment that is centered in the back yolk, you will want to acquire this during the placement of the commercial pattern piece. The back pattern piece must be evenly placed in the center top back of the existing garment. After you have managed arranging that area, make sure that the rest of the commercial pattern back is smoothed and ready to be cut. Cut and sew shirt back to front according to commercial pattern instructions. FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B and 5B show the effect or results of this procedure. FIG. 3B shows the concept was taken a step further by adding bias tape created and cut from a checked blouse. It did make a wonderful accent on both the back and the front of the outfit seen in FIGS. 3A and B.

Embellishments

Embellishments are easy to capture and present in what appears to be a new way. FIGS. 3A and 6 were cut and sewn using the placket front placement method. Although it looks as though a great deal of sewing has occurred, in reality, the only true work was making sure that the commercial pattern was placed correctly over the button placket. The tucking and lace were embellishments that were captured by the pattern placement. Take another quick look at FIG. 6, notice how sweet the lace and tucking looks on the shirt as well as the little pants.

In the case of FIG. 15A, I have made an accent to coordinate with the matching pants. FIG. 15B shows a close up of the pocket with the accent. The accent was easily constructed by folding the fabric the way a hanky would look when stuffed into a pocket making sure that all loose ends were all facing the same direction. By using bias tape or any similar seam finish fraying will be minimized. Use any means to place a buttonhole in the accent. The best view of the accent is FIG. 15E. The little matching accent buttons into the pocket. FIG. 15C illustrates that a button was placed behind the button on the front of the pocket. FIG. 15D further illustrates this point. FIGS. 15F, 15G, and 15H upon close inspection, show the buttons are both on the inside and outside of pocket. FIGS. 151, 15J and 15K further illustrate that the accent can be taken in and out of the pocket. The entire reason this is of significance is that this product line is post washed for customer satisfaction as eluded to in BACK GROUND OF THE INVENTION ¶ [0003]. I constructed the ensembles so that detachable accents could be washed in like colors. The accent can be attached to the pants via a cuff button.

Collars

Collars can be used to create hat brims; shirt sleeves cuffs, and waistband adjusters.

Hat Brims: You can use a commercial hat pattern and accent it with a shirt collar. Do this by cutting off the shirt collar and the collar band with the button and buttonhole in place. It is acceptable to have a small portion of the garment fabric attached to the collar base. It can be used as part of the seam allowance. Any seam finish is acceptable. I prefer to attach the collar band to the base of the hat via French or flat fell seam finish. Make sure that the right side of the collar will be predominately exposed upon completion of the hat. The collar band can be buttoned or unbuttoned. If the collar band was adjustable in the larger garment then the little hat brim will also be adjustable. Collars with or with out buttonholes can be used for this procedure. The collar itself can be moved into different positions creating a kooky look as seen in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 10C. FIGS. 14A and B show close ups of the little hat. The hat was not shown publicly until after my provisional patent paper work was submitted properly.

Tiny Shirt Cuffs: Button down collars can be used to enhance shirt sleeves by being converted into tiny sleeve cuffs that button. Gently cut the collar off of collar stand leaving the collar itself completely intact. It is acceptable to have a portion of the collar stand left attached to the collar. It will be used in the seam allowance. Understand that you will be using the entire turn down part of the collar for the little sleeve cuffs. The larger the collar, the larger the shirt cuffs. Take the collar and fold it length wise matching the little buttonholes and sides to make sure that everything is even. Your cutting line will be centered between the tiny buttonholes. Cut the collar in half so that the two sides have a little buttonhole at one end. Your two pieces should look similar to little cuffs. Instead of the buttonhole being centered at one end, it will be up toward a pointed corner. Turn under the ends and finish the edges opposite the buttonholes. Attach the tiny cuffs at the end of sleeves as you would on any commercial pattern that calls for a placket during cuff attachment. Finish seam allowance being sure to reduce all bulk related to the cuff attachment. Use the little buttons that matched the tiny buttonholes on your newly fashioned tiny sleeve cuffs. FIG. 7D shows a close up of a finished cuff. FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7G shoe tiny glimpses of the little cuffs.

Collar Tips as Waistband Adjusters

Collar tips can be used as waistband adjusters. For best results, use collar tips with buttonholes. The collar tip should be near the width of the front waistband. Waistbands vary in width according to the length or height of the pants, shorts, bloomers, diaper or panty covers, and petticoats being sewn. The collar tips will be applied to the front of the waistband after the fabric has been turned down and stitched as a casing. Place equally sized collar tips at an equal distance from the center line of the front waistband. Place the collar tips with the wrong side against the right side of the front waistband. AGAIN, the little tips will be facing each other at an equal distance from the center line on the front portion of the waistband. Stitch on the wide end of collar tip just enough to secure the wide end of the collar tip to the waistband. Now, turn the collar tips over. The collar tips should now be facing toward the back of the waistband. The action of turning the collar tips toward the back of the waistband creates a natural tuck on both sides of the front waistband. The natural tuck will make it easy to employ the action of adjusting the waistband. Neatly top stitch the area involving the placement of the collar tips. FIG. 11E shows top stitching applied to the right side of the front waistband. You will finish securing the collar tips by applying top stitching to the right and left sides of the front waistband between the two collar tips. The top stitching of the area between the color tips will be done in one step. Stitch as neatly as you can while using FIG. 11E as your example. You will have no need to topstitch the tips. Place the first set of buttons directly under the collar tip buttonholes. Button both collar tips. Next, sew additional buttons equally spaced away from the buttoned collar tips on both sides of the front waistband. The extra buttons placed equally apart on both sides of the waistband are what provide adjustability in the waistband. FIG. 11E shows a close up view of bloomers made from a short sleeve shirt utilizing the collar tip method as a type of an adjustable waistband. This application for a child's waistband can be used with children's pants, shorts, bloomers, diaper or panty covers, and petty coats such as those in FIGS. 1A, 2A, 4A, 5A, 6, 7E, 8A, 9, 11A, 11C, and 15A. FIGS. 11F, 11G, and 11H illustrate additional views of the use collar tips for an adjustable waistband.

Sleeves and Hems

Long and short sleeves can be transformed into children's pants, shorts, bloomers, diaper or panty covers, and petticoats. This can be accomplished by cutting the sleeves off of an existing garment. Iron the detached sleeves as though they were still connected to the garment. When pressing the sleeves begin pressing each detached sleeve at the inseam and press out toward the back of the sleeve which would attach at the shoulder if the sleeves had not been removed. You are to press the sleeves as if you want a crease in the same place a dry cleaners would place a crease for a business shirt. Having pressed the sleeves, you will align the inseams, outer edge crease, cuff plackets, cuffs, and hems so that they are evenly facing each other, i.e. back to back or front to front.

PATTERN PLACEMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT!

The inseam of the new bottoms should correspond with the inseam of the former sleeves. You will be placing the commercial pattern on top of the pressed aligned sleeves and use the commercial pattern as a guide to cut the crotch and waistband casing area. You will not need seam allowances for the inseam or side seam for the children's pants, shorts, bloomers, diaper or panty covers, and petticoats. The need for additional fabric for a turned up hem will also be eliminated.

You will notice during the construction process that there are no side seams, inseams, or hems to be sewn for pants, shorts, bloomers, diaper or panty covers, and petticoats because that was already completed in the existing garment to be recycled. When placing the commercial pattern be sure the underarm inseams are used as inseams for the new pants, shorts, bloomers, diaper covers, or pantaloons.

UNDERSTAND that the commercial pattern piece will be positioned so that the dotted stitching line, (that represents the inseam for the children's ensemble bottoms), will fall directly on top of the sleeve underarm inseam. Remember to leave enough space at the top of the pattern for turning down a casing.

CAUTION: Placing the underarm inseam on the outside of the pants, shorts, bloomers, diaper or panty covers, and petticoats, causes the naturally occurring creases created during the construction process, to turn in the wrong direction.

FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11E and 11H show that there are no side seams during the construction process. FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 4A, 4B, 5A, 5B, 6A, 7C, 7E, 7F, 8A, 8B, 9, 11C, 11D, and 15A show the results of applying the new method as well as the absence of the need to hem while recycling garments using my new methods. In other words, no hemming was needed for any of the pants, shorts, bloomers, diaper or panty covers, or petticoats presented in FIGS. 1A-15A. FIGS. 7G, 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D further illustrate that the commercial hems were not altered during the construction of the children's clothing while employing commercial patterns.

Again, any sewn detail within the original larger garment that can be applied toward my children's clothing ensemble is used during my new method of recycling garments.

Although the idea of making the shorts from sleeves was inside my mind and recorded as a pattern placement option inside of the provisional patent, I did not put it into tangible form until a few days prior to turning in this utility patent. No one has seen this concept except my immediate family. I have not explained any of the construction processes to anyone.

Additional Pictures

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D were included as an effort to show the concept of the size adjustability of this form of recycling. These views are modeled on a size 4 Buster Brown mannequin. FIGS. 4A and 4B depict the same outfit displayed on a size 6 month mannequin. The house dress found in FIGS. 12A and 12B is too large for the size 6 month mannequin. 

1. A children's Clothing ensemble as shown and described. my method of constructing said children's clothing ensemble and the results of said Method of construction means to sew said children's clothing ensemble embodiments presented containing the results of said method of construction 